Ancient Names

By Aimee Lekeberg

Jayme knows that she has met the man who has haunted her dreams for her entire lifetime but is he the one she was meant to be with? A runaway from Romania, Jayme flees the life she knew behind with her cousin for England. Upon her arrival, Erik, a high-strung handsome metal worker and farmer, is enthralled with her, but Erik has some secrets of his own. She must share a curse if she is to stay with Erik. Contemplating her own fate, she is intrigued by a castle in the village. As she walks in, different memories overtake her as she meets a man who she feels she has known before. She is swept away by Richard's valor even in the face of monsters as they continue to chase after Jayme. Seven years later, she is fleeing from a different kind of monster when she meets him again. Who will be her savior? Can she rely on Erik or will her saving grace come from Richard, the English dancer who she can't seem to stay away from.

Stay tuned for the second book in this series Torn coming soon to a bookstore near you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887318783

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Part 2: The Ball

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

About the Author

cover.jpg

Ancient Names

Aimee Lekeberg

Copyright © 2023 Aimee Lekeberg

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2023

This is a work of fiction. Space and time have been rearranged to suit the convenience of the book, any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.

ISBN 978-1-63985-276-5 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88731-878-3 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

I loved a man once, but he wasn't mine. I loved him 'til the end of time.

Prologue

Richard picks up a piece of a rock and throws it in the river. About nine years old, he is in love with the girl who stays by the castle wall. She meets him there almost every day to play by the sand.

Chapter 1

He walked into his metal shop with his father. Father, I'd really like it if we could watch the foxes tonight. He hung his cloak at the back of the chair.

You know that I can't. I promised your mother no more betting. His father leaned into the table, thrusting his keys into the slot.

Oh geez. Mother's got you reeling again for betting last night. Hey, what are you getting out of that safe?

I'm grabbing a gun and some money for the Bestus party. He leaned into the counter. His gray beard was hitting the top of the counter.

Whoa geez, not that party again. I'm not going. Erik threw his cards out often, all at once, his emotions always get the best of him.

You know that blondie, Kriss, really wants to play kissy face with you, his dad said teasing, as he always did to him, ever since he was a kid.

All Erik got out was a huff and stormed outside, into the cold English winds. It was about forty degrees in May. He almost fell down when he caught a glimpse of her, her pretty hair all tangled up. She was so free-flowing and dancing, twisting, and turning, almost like she was from another world. Her dress was even free-flowing, and her brown hair was long, her skin darker than his. Who was this girl? Where had she come from? Surely not from here. He rubbed his dark red beard and tried to smooth it down from the crazy winds. Her dress was almost to the top of her calves, and she was dancing. She wandered close by him and then suddenly stopped. It was so fast that she didn't even see him there. Her eyes widened, and her mouth let out a sharp gasp. He was drawn to her mouth. He stared at her intently. He was about a foot taller than her. She looked up past him at the sign that read Johnson's metal shop. She looked at him, and her face turned a bit pink, either by embarrassment or because of the wind.

Is this the shop where I can sharpen my hatchet?

He looked at her smugly, trying to hide any interest he saw in her, this free-flowing girl. How old was she anyway? Had he ever seen her here before?

Yes it is. You can come right in. He ushered her into the doorway. He stared at her backside as he went in after her. She was not plump but a little muscular. And her skin was tan. Something down inside him groaned with an aching. He refused to give into that and asked her, Do you have it…the hatchet with you?

Yes of course, it is right here. She pulled it out of her knapsack. She seemed to not only have a hatchet but a blade of some sort. It was a small hatchet, something a girl could use or someone could use for a small fire. How much will it be?

Hmm. Usually the hatchet sharpening was, in fact, 2 lbs, but he had a different idea.

Did you say you were from around here? He dug his hand into his pocket.

Um…well, my family is passing through…so we are staying for a while. Over by the Bestus Inn.

Erik almost fell right out of his head. It was hard to speak. Oh…well, there's a party my family and I are going to tonight, should you care to join me…I mean us? I can sharpen your tools for free. He made a small hand motion to her other blade.

She shuffled like she didn't want him to see. Oh her face was turning red. I don't know…my family will be over there, so we could meet you there then?

Yeah sure…that's good, he said rather quickly. Let me see your blade.

Well, okay. She pulled the blade out. It was so slightly like nothing he had seen before.

Set it there. He instructed her to put it down. As he did, his father walked in. He did a double take at the girl and his son and almost stepped into the wall.

Hello there, girl. How can we help you? We don't have a place to stay. This last part Erik thought he said rather rudely.

Er…no, sir, I'm getting my tools sharpened, by your here…

Son, Erik, he finished for her.

Oh well then in that case, let me ring up the price.

Father, I already took care of that. His voice almost sounded like a growl.

Yes, well I'd better be going. See you tonight, Erik, she said his name rather breathy, and it made him tight in his spot again.

He hardly had a chance to realize she was gone when his father reeled on him.

You let a gypsy woman come into the shop? What have you lost your head? She could have put a curse on us or stole all our valuables. And what do you mean she's seeing you tonight?

Gypsy? The thought was thrown out at him when he first saw her, dancing her hair swinging in the wind, tight muscular body, carrying a blade. Well, that explains it, he said under his breath.

Chapter 2

Jayme walked back to